San Jose Sharks' Brad Stuart (7) falls down as he blocks a shot next to goalie Alex Stalock and defenseman Justin Braun (61) uring the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

San Jose Sharks' Brad Stuart (7) falls down as he blocks a shot...

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San Jose Sharks' Tommy Wingels (57) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Dallas Stars during overtime of an NHL hockey game on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in San Jose, Calif. San Jose won 2-1. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

San Jose Sharks' Tommy Wingels (57) celebrates his game-winning...

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San Jose Sharks' Martin Havlat (9), of the Czech Republic, celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

San Jose Sharks' Martin Havlat (9), of the Czech Republic,...

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San Jose Sharks' Justin Braun (61) collides with Dallas Stars' Rich Peverley (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

San Jose Sharks' Matt Irwin (52) is chased by Dallas Stars' Valeri Nichushkin (43), of Russia, during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

San Jose Sharks' Matt Irwin (52) is chased by Dallas Stars' Valeri...

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Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32), of Finland, stops a shot by San Jose Sharks' Tommy Wingels (57) as defenseman Brenden Dillon (4) watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

The way the Sharks are struggling to score, they'll take them any way they come.

On Wednesday, it was Tommy Wingels scoring at 1:52 of overtime on only the team's fourth shot since the start of the third period to give the Sharks a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars at the SAP Center.

"Our forecheck was better tonight creating opportunities, but still not as many shots as we'd like," Wingels said. "Is every game going to be four, five goals? No. But we can't have one or two for this long."

Searching for any sort of sustained attack after the opening period, it came in sudden death as Martin Havlat made a nice pass in front to set up Wingels on the game-winner. Defenseman Scott Hannan started the scoring sequence with a pass from the corner to Havlat.

"Both goals were all Hanner," said Havlat, who scored off a pass from Hannan in regulation. "He had a great game."

Dallas tied the game on its 17th shot when Valeri Nichushkin one-timed a Trevor Daley centering feed past Sharks goalie Alex Stalock at 6:27 of the third period to cap a chance-filled Stars' shift.

"They needed a goal, and they ended up getting one," Stalock said. "But we got the last one, we needed it, and we got the two points."

The Sharks didn't record their first of only two third-period shots until Patrick Marleau redirected a Joe Thornton drive on net at 14:18.

Havlat scored his first goal since Dec. 17 late in the second period, the only scoring in the opening 40 minutes.

After having put pressure on Dallas during the previous shift, James Sheppard fed Hannan at the right point. He fired a shot-pass just off net, where Havlat redirected the puck from the edge of the left circle at 18:06 past Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen, who had stopped the first 14 shots he faced.

"It feels nice to win the game; that's the most important thing," Havlat said.

San Jose narrowly missed making it a two-goal lead inside the final minute when a Marleau effort got behind Lehtonen before being cleared by the Dallas defense.

Until that point, the Sharks played very much on the perimeter during the middle period while the Stars, who won the night before at Phoenix, seemed content to defend.

The Sharks held a 9-6 edge in shots following an evenly played and clean first period.

Stalock made the save of the period by going post-to-post to make a diving glove save on Jamie Benn, who one-timed a goal-mouth feed from Rich Peverley 3 feet off the ice at 13:32.

"I thought Peverley was going to pass it on his backhand there," Stalock said. "It was kind of a desperation save. It would be nice to make those saves a little easier. It's something to work on."

Sharks, Wild trade

The Sharks acquired forward Chad Rau from Minnesota on Wednesday for forward Curt Gogol in a trade of minor leaguers.

Rau has one goal and six assists in 33 games this season for the AHL's Iowa Wild. He has two goals in nine career NHL games for Minnesota. He will report to the Worcester affiliate.

Gogol recorded four points and 149 penalty minutes in 40 games with Worcester.